Method of treating copper and nickel matte.



No. 826,099. PATENTBD JULY 17, 1906. J. A. GILMAN. METHOD OF TREATING COPPER AND NICKEL MATTE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.21. 1903.

the following is a specification.

.application the particles are allowed to del chamber 12.

JOHN A. GILMAN, OF WESTIFAIRLEE, VERMONT.

METHOD OF TREATING COPPER AND NICKEL MATTE..

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed October 21, 1903. Serial No. 177.866.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. GILMAN, of l West Fairlee, in the county of Orange and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Copper and Nickel Mattes, of which This invention is an improvement on the process described in an ap lication, Serial No. 160,840, of myself and Ireorge C. Everett for treating copper and nickel mattes, whereby the matte While in a molten state is finely subdivided into particles by impingement against a mechanical surface, such as that of a screen suitably cooled, the stream of particles being then subjected to the action of the oxygen of the air so as to remove the sulfur from the particles.

The present invention involves the same general principle of operation as in the said application, but whereas according to that scend by gravity until substantially solid and in their descent come into contact with the air which oxidizes the sulfur according to my present improvement the stream of particles is subjected to a lateral current of air produced by a suitable blast or otherwise and is thereby deflected, the object and result being to decrease the height or distance from which the particles must be projected and allowed to fall. j

-The accompanying drawing representsa sectional view of an apparatus for carrying the process of my said invention into effect, and in said drawing 10 is a vertical tubular stack having a lower horizontal extension 11, which opens into a lar e closed bin or chamber 12, said extension Iiaving an air-inlet 13, into which is inserted a steam-pipe 140 for producin an induced blast of air.

Any ot er equivalent, such as a fan, may be substituted for the steam-blast.

130 is an outlet or chimney for the gases and excess air, opening to the atmosphere at a suitable height and communicating at its lower end through an aperture 20 withthe Into the stack 10 projects a revolving screen 14, cooled and moistened by a sprinkler 15 for finely subdividing the stream of molten matte into particles, the stream being poured into a spout 16 from a ladle 17 and impinging a ainst a vertical abutment 18, which partial y shatters the stream and guidesit properly onto the screen. This is the same means as described in the aforesaid ap lication for subdividing'the matte; but 1t be understood that any other suitable` means may bepsubstltuted for performing the aforesaid function or any other function of the a paratus herein described.`

In t e operation of the invention the stream of particles 19 of molten matte descends by gra ty in the stack 10 until it encounters the lateral air blast or current produced in the extension 11, whereupon the particles are deflected laterally and fall onto the floor of the chamber or bin 12, from whence they may be removed as desired. The air-blast has the eiect of oxidizing and removing the most of the sulfur from the particles of matte and of shortening the vertical fall of the articles over what would be required witllout the blast. The particles may, if desired, receive some oxidation in the body of the stack 10, the latter having an opening at its upper end controlled by a lid or valve 21 By subjecting the matte to an air-current after it has been broken up into particles by mechanical means the particles are very quickly and effectively oxidized and a Asmall pressure onlyV of air is required. Theinvention also'enables me` to control the period during which the esc-ape of sulfur takes lace. The sulfur will not leave the matte free y until the latter has decreased in temperature to a certain oint, and by producing the airblast at t 's point I may secure the most effective action of the air. The temperature of the blast may, if desired, be maintained during this period by suitable means, as by means of the steam intermixed therewith or by other suitable device.

I claim- 1. A process for treating copper and nickel mattes which consists in projecting a stream of molten particles of\the matte into space and changing its direction by a current of air. 2. A process for treating copper and nickel mattes which consists in finely subdividing the matte while in a molten state, projecting the articles in a stream downwardly by gravity, and blowing the stream laterally with a current of air to remove the sulfur of the particles.

3. A process for treating co per and nickel mattes which consists in fine y subdividing the matte while 1n a" molten state by imingement thereof against a mechanical sur- ITC ace, and then subjecting the particles to the Y action of oxygen to remove sulfur from the matte. l

4. A process for treating copper or nickel suld mattes' Which( consists in nely dividing the matte Whilein a molten state, cooling the particles to a temperature at which the sulfur will freely leave them, and subjecting them to the action of. an oxidizin agent, whereby the amount of sulfur in t eparticles is reduced.

5. A process for treating copper and nickel sulid mattesvwhich consists 1n shotting the matte While in a molten state, dropping it through the Aair by gravity a suflcrent distance to cool the articles to a temperature at which the s r will leave the matte freely, and blowing the particles laterally with a stream of air toremove the vsulfur of fl'.

JOHN A. GILMAN. Witnesses:

R. M. PIERSON, A. C. RATIGAN. 

